Nelson’s Patriotic Signal: England expects that every man will do his duty
News stories bringing the history of Essex Freemasons alive to a modern audience
Vice Admiral Lord Nelson, the 47-year-old hero of the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805, won a decisive victory at sea. Nelson signalled one of the most patriotic messages in English history to his fleet before the battle but was tragically killed in his hour of victory, the last words Nelson spoke were, “Thank God I have done my duty.”
Nelson had a huge impact on the British public and especially among Essex Freemasons. Only eight weeks later, on the 27th December 1805, the Secretary of Angel Lodge, the oldest in Essex, wrote the name ‘Patriotic’ in the minutes book, stating:
‘It is proposed, seconded and ably supported and indeed unanimously agreed to, that the Sum of £13.10.0 now contributed towards
the Patriotic Fund, but which remains open, whatever sum remaining short of £20. shall be advanced by the Treasurer, and by him transmitted to Treasurer of that Fund at Lloyds Coffee House.’
Britain had been at war with France for most of the time since 1793, so a group of underwriters at Lloyd’s Coffee House set up the Patriotic Fund in 1803 to help soldiers and sailors with serious injuries and the widows and orphans of those who had been killed. In 1807, the exalted members of Angel Lodge applied for a Warrant to set up a Royal Arch Chapter named Patriotic. The first meeting was held in 1808.
In 1995, First Principal, Tony Terry, produced a history of Patriotic Chapter No.51, the oldest in the Province, this is held at Great Queen Street but Tony still continued researching and is nearing completion of a more comprehensive history which will be of great interest to all Royal Arch Masons because he has compiled an excellent account of the Royal Arch under the Antients, the Moderns, the Union and how it has progressed since then.
Tony is giving a short presentation about Patriotic’s fine history on the 5th November 2024 at the Patriotic Chapter convocation starting at 5.30pm at St Giles Masonic Centre in 
Colchester. He is making it more interesting with illustrated snippets about events in the 18th century, through Trafalgar and right up to the present day. It bodes well to be a meaningful alternative for those Companions who may not want to watch fireworks. For more details email
Meaning ‘love for your country and being proud of it’, the Lloyds Patriotic Fund and Patriotic Chapter both continue
helping communities to the present day. For more than two centuries their members have lived up to Nelson’s patriotic signal on 21st October 1805: ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY.
Tony Terry has also joined the new Provincial History Team. In addition to his historical work for Patriotic Chapter, he is also helping with the research and evaluation of options and solutions for document storage and preservation designed to help all Secretaries and Scribes E in leaving lasting legacies of their Lodges and Chapters for future generations.
Photos
Top: Nelson arranging his famous signal before the Battle of Trafalgar
Middle-right: The list of subscribers in Angel Lodge to the Patriotic funds at Lloyds Coffee House
Middle-left: The 1805 reference to Patriotic Funds in the Angel Lodge minute book
Bottom: Tony Terry displaying Patriotic Chapter’s banner
